Two Australians injured in helicopter crash near cliffs in Bali’s South Kuta region
The unbelievable reason a tourist helicopter transporting two Australians has gone down near cliffs in Bali’s South Kuta region has been revealed. See the pictures and video.
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Kite strings are responsible for a helicopter carrying two Australians crashing in Bali.
The two Aussies were passengers with the pilot and two other Indonesian locals when the aircraft went down near cliffs at Pecatu in Bali’s South Kuta on Friday.
Denpasar Search and Rescue Agency head, I Nyoman Sidakarya, said the helicopter crashed just four minutes after taking off from the helipad in Garuda Wisnu Kencana at 2.33pm local time.
“The crash is caused by kite strings that entangled into propeller. And the kite strings was quite big and many,” he said.
He said the five passengers, including the two Australians, were being treated at hospitals in Siloam, Bali Jimbaran, and Udayana.
“The helicopter wreckage is now still on the scene as an investigation would be held by the National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT),” he said.
“Later after the investigation, the aviation operator will clean up the area.”
Bali’s Indonesian search and rescue (Basarnas) agency reported the helicopter took off from Garuda Wisnu Kencana (GWK) and was set to do a tour around Bali when disaster struck.
The agency reported all people on board were saved. Three passengers have been taken to hospital with serious injuries.
The coastline at Pecatu in South Kuta has rugged cliffs and is popular for surfers and helicopter tours.
Indonesia’s transport ministry said the helicopter crashed after it became entangled in kite strings.
“The Directorate General of Civil Aviation Ditjen Hubud has received a report on the accident of the PK-WSP type Bell 505 helicopter belonging to Whitesky Aviation,” they said in a statement.
“Initial information is that all passengers are confirmed to have survived the accident.
The Aviation Safety website lists 19 incidents involving the Bell 505 Jet Ranger X since its debut in 2014.
The Bali crash is the fourth incident involving this make of helicopter in 2024, following accidents in Switzerland, Poland and France.
Two people died in the French crash but there were no fatalities in the other incidents.
“Currently, aviation inspectors from the Region IV Airport Authority Office are heading to the crash site. PT. Whitesky Aviation has also sent an investigation team to the scene.
“The Ministry of Transportation, through the Directorate General of Communications, will carry out more intensive outreach and monitoring of the dangers of kites.”
Whitesky Aviation – the company who owned the aircraft – released a statement regarding Friday’s incident.
“Based on data from our flight following system, there has been an emergency landing attempt due to entanglement in the kite string resulting in serious damage to the Bell 505 JRX helicopter registered PK-WSP belonging to Bali Heli Tour Suluban Pecatu South Kuta Bali which is operated under Whitesky Aviation,” it said.
All five people on board are safe but suffered “minor – moderate injuries” and are currently undergoing treatment in hospital, the company added.
Whitesky Aviation said it reported the incident – still under investigation – to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.
Local reports have said witnesses heard the voice of a woman pleading for help after the helicopter crashed.
Helicopter crash in Pecatu Bali, Friday 19/2024.
— The Good Man (@theRealExperime) July 19, 2024
From first reports there are no casualties #bali#crash#balicrash#helicoptercrash#pecatu#indonesiapic.twitter.com/kMmlybOJdh
Social media footage shows locals rushing to help after the aircraft crashed into the rock face, with passengers being pulled out of the helicopter.
It is understood the helicopter was undertaking a property survey at the time of the incident.
The website for the company Bali Helitours states that the company’s helicopters “are professionally maintained and have a guaranteed safety record”.
The Bell 505 can fit up to four passengers as well as the pilot, the company also states on its website.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it is currently providing consular assistance to two Australians in Bali.
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Originally published as Two Australians injured in helicopter crash near cliffs in Bali’s South Kuta region
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